Atoms & Souls: Rethinking Reality

Hello friends. So in the past I have quoted both Max Planck and Irwin Schrodinger as having favoured consciousness as the fundamental reality of all existence. So let me share with you in a little bit detail what they each said and why I am totally in agreement with their views, not that it matters to anyone. So Max Planck made the statement you cannot get behind consciousness and it reflected his philosophical view that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of reality. Planck was a pivotal figure in the development of quantum theory and regarded consciousness as primary and matter derivative of it. I of course believe that matter is a human construct for modes of knowing and experience in consciousness that we call perceptual activity, a combination of sensations. In any case, Max Planck's perspective suggests that all discussions and perceptions of existence inherently require consciousness as a prerequisite. In other words, consciousness is not something that can be further reduced or explained away by other phenomena. It is the foundational basis upon which all else is understood. So that was Planck. And then of course, a contemporary, although born later, of his, Irwin Schrodinger, from whom we have the whole basis of quantum mechanics, which is the wave function. He had a profound interest, Irwin Schrodinger, in Eastern philosophies, particularly Vedanta, which influenced his scientific thinking. Schrodinger compared the concepts of Atman, the individual self, and Brahman, the universal self, from Vedanta to his wave function in quantum mechanics. In Vedantic philosophy, Atman and Brahman are the ultimate reality, and they're ultimately also the same, reflecting a unity between the individual and the universe. Yathapende tathabrahmande. As is the atom, so is the universe. As is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm. As is the human body, so is the cosmic body. As is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind. So, Schrodinger saw a parallel in the wave function, which describes the possibilities of a system's states, and reflects a holistic view of reality, where individual particles are part of a larger interconnected or inseparable whole. So, both Planck's and Schrodinger's views highlight a philosophical dimension to their scientific work, where consciousness and holistic unity play central roles in understanding the nature of reality. These perspectives challenge the purely mechanistic, materialistic, and reductionist views of the universe, suggesting instead that consciousness and interconnectedness, or inseparability, or non-local correlation, are fundamental aspects of existence. So, why is this important? Because this points to you and your existence as fundamental to the universe, because the ground of your being is the ground of all being. Let me know if this is useful. And by the way, one second, reminder, Digital Dharma is out. And it's a user's guide to how AI can elevate spiritual intelligence and personal well-being. So, you can also engage with my digital twin, digitaldeepheart.ai, and we can continue these conversations, if, of course, you have the time, ability, and desire to do so.